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AM Feed - May 5: Bush's Base - Dust in the Wind?

Hot Topics

• President Bush has made a habit of using wedge issues and polarizing politics as a means to holding onto power – but now it appears that even his staunchest supporters are turning against him. According to the latest AP-Ipsos poll, Bush’s approval rating hits a new low of just 33 percent, and nearly 30 percent of Republicans disapprove of the job he’s doing as president. Bush gets especially poor marks on gasoline prices, with just 23 percent approving of his handling of the issue. It’s especially important for Bush that he hold onto his base, because his attack-style politics have effectively destroyed any remaining middle ground – and six years into his presidency, he’s extremely unlikely to win over any new converts. [link]
• And President Bush’s political woes look like they’re about to get worse: The Republican-controlled Senate has just passed a $109 billion spending bill, which Bush has already threatened to veto over cost issues. Remember, Bush has not used his veto power once since assuming office. Bush has called for a ceiling of $94.5 billion in funding for the bill, but the Senate contends that this cap is unmanageable because it would force insufficient spending on things like border security. [link]
• Rep. Charles Taylor (R-NC) initially stood in the way of the creation of a national memorial to Flight 93 which crashed in Pennsylvania on 9/11, claiming that the $10 million in federal funding was too expensive. But yesterday, he finally reversed course and allowed the funding, bowing to popular opinion, political pressure and common sense. Taylor has been linked to corrupt former superlobbyist Jack Abramoff, and ironically, he once helped secure $3 million in federal funding for an Abramoff client. [link]

Quote of the Day

“Why did you lie to get us into a war that caused these kind of casualties and was not necessary?” – Former CIA analyst Ray McGovern, to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld yesterday.

Morning Snark

• President Bush’s approval ratings are so bad, now even Rumsfeld and Cheney might start shying away from him.

1. Kudos to Ex-CIA analyst Ray McGovern for his hard-hitting questions which Rummy answered with non-sequitors and evasions. I don’t wear a hat, but if I did I’d be tipping it at him and the 3 activist hecklers that braved the Stalinist atmosphere of the press conference. Catch the audio of it on Democracy Now.
   — John    May 5, 11:54    #
2. I would like to refer y’all to www.dailykos.com/story/2006/5/3/83734/61208.This is an entry by goinsouth detailing how Rick “Dog Sex” Santorum’s shepherding the Orwellian-named Iran Freedom Support Act through the Senate. It passed overwhelmingly in the House with the help of almost all the Dems. Now in the Senate, this odious bill has 58 co-sponsors, including 21 Democratic Senators. WE ARE GOING TO WAR WITH IRAN, PEOPLE! Unfortunately, the party that’s supposed to represent the downtrodden, the working class, women, minorities,etc. is betraying us yet again! At some point, as arduous and painful as the struggle will be, we are going to have to begin in earnest to aggressively challenge this intolerable corporate duopoly. Democratic loyalists who adhere to the Dem Party no matter what have been likened to a battered spouse – they make excuses for their betrayer’s abuse and cling to the batterer hoping, hoping, hoping…for the abuse to end at some point. Gentle readers, the regressives who dominate both parties have contempt for you and will never protect you or lift a finger to advance you interests. We must fight back and take this country back from these Royalists and their supporters.
   — John    May 5, 12:42    #
3. John, I’ve heard that battered spouse analogy before – I suppose it’s not too far off the mark. I certainly am tired of the disappointment, time and time again, of not having anybody except a handful of members of the Progressive Caucus in the House and Russ Feingold in the Senate actually fighting back on our behalf. Feingold is good on civil liberties. That’s about it. I’m actually very depressed and discouraged right now – feeling dissed and used.
   — Tamika    May 5, 12:59    #
4. Hi Tamika – don’t let the corporatists and the loony end-timers get you down, dear. The victory is in the struggle! Get mad and get active! Dr. King said something to the effect that the moral arc of the universe is long, but bends toward justice…
   — John    May 5, 13:08    #
5. Here is a bit of advice for you if you are disappointed in the Democrats:
   
   They are all politicians first !!!
   
   All of the Republicans, all of the Democrats.
   
   They all have the same need to be in the lime light, top dog, the people in charge, and the desire to be rich and powerful first. If there’s anything left over, we the people get a notice by some of “them” – the American royals. They are bought and paid for by the same corporations that make the laws – Exxon/Mobil, Wal-Mart, Halibuton, etc..
   
   Paul Wellstone was the only politician I ever saw that I thought didn’t fit the pattern.
   (I still wonder if it was an accident.)
   — MO    May 5, 14:40    #

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